Changes

As tensions between the [[Federation]] and [[Romulan Star Empire]] mounted, Star Fleet identified a strategic weakness in the fleet deployments. {{ShipClass|Fearless}} cruisers would be outgunned by the larger Romulan [[Warbird]]s, and would have to attack in groups in order to overwhelm their defenses. To counter this weakness, [[Star Fleet Command]] authorised the refit of [[heavy cruiser]]s with more efficient systems and heavier weaponry. The nacelles were replaced; configured in a way to streamline the ship better and cope with a secondary [[warp core]]. [[Ablative Armor|Ablative armor]] was added to the [[hull plating]], and a [[stealth]] unit was installed to make the ship harder to detect an acquire with [[sensors]]. Due to the immense cost and time required to refit the vessels, only three vessels - the USS ''Avenger'', BC-1500, [[USS Dauntless, BC-1553|USS ''Dauntless'']], and [[USS Gettysburg, BC-1863|USS ''Gettysburg'']] ever received the upgrade. However, instead of having the upgrades removed in order to restore the vessels to their original configuration, Star Fleet left the upgrades in place so that if needed, the battle cruisers would once again bring their heavy firepower to bear against an enemy. During the invasion between the Krynar Inquisition, 10 years following the Romulan and Borg invasions of 2402, Star Fleet determined that a merging of the aging ageing Fearless Class Heavy Cruiser and the Avenger Class Battle Cruiser was in the best interests of the fleet. As such, all vessels of both classes were refit into a single class of starship, encompassing the statistics and capibilities capabilities of the Avenger Class to create the Avenger Class Heavy Cruiser.